The last engagement Paul was in, was
the memorable assault on Fort Fisher. When the war closed, he was
mustered out. At that time he held the position of yeoman.
Mr. Boyton discovered that Paul did not have much aptitude for
commercial pursuits, so he sent him to the West Indies for the
purpose of collecting and shipping all kinds of marine curiosities.
Paul's companion was a submarine diver whom his father had engaged. They
took passage on the bark, "Reindeer," bound for the Barbadoes. They had
all kinds of the latest dredging apparatus, including submarine armor
and pumps in their outfit. After a tedious voyage of twenty-seven
days, the "Reindeer" cast anchor in Bridgetown. Paul and the diver,
whose name was Tom Scott, were kindly welcomed by the merchant, an
old friend of Mr. Boyton's, to whom they carried letters of
introduction.
His father's instructions were to charter a fishing boat, or some
suitable vessel at Bridgetown for a six month's cruise among the keys
and islands surrounding, for the purpose of fishing up coral, shells and
other curios that he could gather. A few days after his arrival,
Paul engaged a staunch little sloop commanded by a negro, who was
assisted by four strong sailors also colored, as crew.
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